Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

The Chicago Hounds are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in Chicagoland. The team was founded in 2022 and is co-owned by a small group of investors including majority owner Peter Bernick and part-owners (and longtime Chicago rugby players) Matt Satchwell and Phil Groves.^[4]^[5]^[6] Their home stadium is SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Games are broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.^[7]

History

On November 17, 2022, Major League Rugby announced the Chicago Hounds as the newest expansion franchise to begin play in 2023, following the discontinuation of the MLR franchises in Austin and Los Angeles.^[8] The Hounds compete in the Western Conference.^[9] Their first game was against Old Glory DC on February 18, 2023.^[10] The Hounds finished their inaugural season ranked 5th among the 6 teams of the Western Conference and 9th among the 12 teams then in MLR. Of their three wins that season, two were against the Dallas Jackals in a rivalry match dubbed the Dog Bowl.^[11]

Home field

The team plays its home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.^[12]^[13]

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Chicago Hounds squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:^[14]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
* denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

Sam Harris (2023–2024)^[15]

Assistant coaches

Rob Webber, forwards coach (2023-present)
Dave Clancy, attack, backs coach (2023–present)^[16]
Jamie Beamish, Head of Performance (2023–present)^[16]

Captains

Bryce Campbell
Billy Meakes
Luke White

Records

Season standings

2023 season

The Hounds played 16 games in the 2023 season. Home games were played at SeatGeek Stadium. The Hounds had their first-ever regular season victory on March 18 against the Dallas Jackals.

References

^ Harvey, Joe (December 30, 2022). "Getting to Know the Chicago Hounds with James English & Sam Harris". OurSports Central.
^ Pengelly, Martin (November 2, 2022). "Major League Rugby announces new team in Chicago after LA and Austin exit". the Guardian.
^ McCarthy, Matt (November 17, 2022). "Chicago Hounds 12th Major League Rugby Team. MLR Expansion Team Details". Rugby Wrap Up.
^ "Hounds Announce Plans for Dawg Town Block Party". Chicago Hounds. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ "Getting To Know The Chicago Hounds With James English & Sam Harris". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION INTO CHICAGO". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ "MARQUEE SPORTS NETWORK ANNOUNCES BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH CHICAGO'S EXPANSION MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY FRANCHISE". Retrieved July 27, 2023.
^ "Austin and LA out for MLR 2023, Chicago set to join". Americas Rugby News. October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
^ "Major League Rugby officially announces expansion into Chicago". Major League Rugby (Press release). November 17, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
^ "Chicago Hounds Unveil Name, Logo as Major League Rugby's Newest Expansion Team". WMAQ-TV. November 17, 2022.
^ "Dallas pushes until the very end". Major League Rugby (Press release). March 19, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
^ Rivera, Mark (November 17, 2022). "Professional rugby expands to Midwest with new team, the Chicago Hounds". WLS-TV.
^ "Chicago Hounds Return to Dawg Town for 2024 Season". Chicago Hounds. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ "Chicago Hounds". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
^ Chen, I-Chun (November 18, 2022). "Meet the Chicago Hounds, Major League Rugby's latest franchise". Chicago Business Journal..
^ a b "Hounds Announce Experienced Staff for 2023 Season". Chicago Hounds (Press release). January 11, 2023.

External links

Official website